Forde keen to face Germany

08 October 2013 11:31

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David Forde will have no qualms about attempting to keep Germany at bay despite conceding nine goals in his last two games.

The 33-year-old Millwall keeper will hope to retain his place as the Republic of Ireland's number one for Friday night's intensely difficult World Cup qualifier trip to Cologne with the Group C leaders looking to secure their passage to Brazil 2014.

But if he does, he will have to put to one side the bitter memories of a 4-0 Sky Bet Championship defeat at Birmingham last Tuesday and the 5-2 thrashing at Bournemouth which followed just four days later.

Forde said: "At the end of the day, that's about being a footballer and being a goalkeeper. You have got to box those things off and put them to the side.

"That's what gives you longevity in the game, that you can go and actually do that.

"That's what gives you the opportunity to keep going and to keep playing the game for so long, because this game is ruthless, so you have got to be able to do that.

"That's part of being a footballer."

At a time when his England counterpart Joe Hart finds himself in the spotlight after a series of high-profile errors, Forde knows it is the lot of a goalkeeper to go through testing spells.

However, he knows the dark times can prove invaluable in the long run and is confident both he and Hart will bounce back.

He said: "We have all been there and it's not a nice place to be. But these things make you stronger as well, especially as a goalkeeper, and I am sure Joe will come back better, stronger and a better keeper for it."